PRESENTATION: This two-day course assists participants in understanding the biology and effects of commonly prescribed medications used by clients. The addiction potential and side effects of the medications will be explored. The goal of this training is to review the data on psychiatric medications so as to improve the mental health staff’s clinical performance by having a better understanding of psychiatric medications and being able to better address the questions and concern of clients using the medications. Participants will be able to:

place psychiatric medications in the correct therapeutic categories.

explain at least two medications from a biological perspective.

discuss the basis of at least two side effects for two different medications.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Joanne McKenna, RN, LADC, is a nurse practitioner who has worked at AdCare Hospital providing substance abuse treatment for over 20 years. In addition, she has been an instructor in Psychopharmacology for the ACE certification program at Westfield State College. Joanne has additional degrees in pastoral counseling and is certified in holistic modalities. She is also an instructor in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and LADC coursework.